Corn-planter



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. KOEPKE.

CORN PLANTER.

No. 371,596. Patented Oct. 18, 1887. o T 7 Phnm-Lilhagrnphor, Wnhinglon, D, C.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. KOEPKE.

CORN PLANTER. No. 371,596. Patented Oct. 18, 1887.

N. PfIERS, Photolilhbgrapher, wumn mm-gfo UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM KOEPKE, OF WALHALLA, TEXAS.

CORN-PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 371,596, dated October 18, 1887.

Serial No. 242,518. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LWILLIAM KOEPKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Valhalla, in the county of Fayette and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Corn-Planters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in corn-planters; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of devices, that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a corn-planter embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same,taken on thelinexm of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 3 y of Fig. 2.

A represents a shaft or axle, which is provided at one end with a rigid wheel, B, and at the opposite end with a loose wheel, 0. To the central portion of the shaft or axle is rigidly secured a cylindrical block, D, which is provided at its center with a series of peripheral seed cups or openings, E.

F represents a pair of vertical standards, in the lower ends of which the revoluble shaft or axle is journaled, and the said standards are provided with vertical slots G.

H represents a horizontal transverse board, which is arranged between the lower ends of the standards F, and at a slight distance above the shaft or axle. On opposite sides of the said board, at the ends thereof, are secured metallic plates l, which project beyond the ends of the board and bear uponthe front and rear edges of the standards F,and are secured to the said standards by means of bolts or screws K.

L represents ahopper,which is arranged on the upper side of the cross-board H,at the center thereof, the said board forming the bottom of the hopper, and in the center of the board is a discharge-opening, M, which is arranged directly abovethe cylindrical block on the axle.

N represents a brush, which depends from the bottom of the hopper and bears upon the front upper side of the said cylindrical block.

0 represents a rectangular frame, which comprises apair of side bars, P, and cross-bars R, which connect the saidside bars at the front and rear ends thereof.

S represents vertical standards, which extend from the frame 0, near the rear ends thereof, and Trepresents handle-levers,which are fulcrumed to the up per portions of the said standards. The said handle-levers are connected near their rear ends by a cross-bar, U, and the front ends of the said handle-levers are pivotaliy connected to the upper ends of the standards G by means of bolts V. It will be observed that the said standards Gare arranged on theinner opposing side ofthe beams P, and are connected thereto by means of transverse bolts W,which extend through the said beams and through the vertical slots G. By means of this construction the frame 0 may be raised or lowered on the standards G by raising or depressing the rear ends ofthe handle-levers, as will be readily understood.

X represents the tongue, which has its rear end bolted to the cross-barsR at the front end of the machine. This tongue is provided near its rear end with a vertical mortise, in which is inserted the upper tenoned end of the standard Y. The said standard is arranged ata suitable forwardinclination, and is braced to the tongue by a bolt-rod, Z.

A represents a furrow-opening shovel,whieh is bolted to the lower front end ofthe standard.

B represents a pair of standards,which are bolted to the rear ends of the side bars,]?,and are braced in position by means of bolt-rods G, which havetheir upper ends pivotally connected to the bars P and their lower ends passed through openings made in the standards B. Nuts D are screwed onto the lower threaded ends of the said brace.

E represents covering shovels or plates, which are attached to the lower ends of the standards B, on the front, sides thereof, and are adapted to cover the seeds dropped in the furrow as the machine advances. By provid ing the corn-planter with the vertically-movable frame, and attaching the furrow opener and coverers to the said frame, the wheels are permitted to run over stumps, clogs, or obstructions without raising the furrow opener and coverers, and thereby the machine will be kept steadily at Work at all times. This construct-ion is also advantageous when using the machine on hillsides and on uneven ground. Having thus described my invention, I

- claim '1. In a corn-planter, the combination of the revolving shaft or axle having the cylindrical block provided with the seed-cups, the standards F,in which the axle is journaled,the hopper arranged between the said standards and above the cylindrical blocks, the frame 0,

secured to and vertically movable on the standards F, said frame having the standards S, the handle levers '1, fulcrumed to the standards S and connected to the standards F,

and the furrow opener and coverers depending from the frame 0, substantiallyas described.

2. The combination, in a corn-planter, of the revolving shaft or axle having the cylindrical block provided with the seed cups or openings, the standards F, in the lower ends of WILLIAM KOEPKE.

Witnesses:

GEO. KoEPKE, B. BEYER. 

